Machine for stamping and sealing mail-matter.



L. J. HALL.

MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

q APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1908. v m. 82,9gg, Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SEEET 1.

L. J. HALL.

MACHINE FOE STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1903. 1,1 82,929.,

r i 2; i-

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

12 SHBBTS-SHBET 2.

L, J. HALL. MACHINE FOR STAMPI 1 1i 3%,9QQ.

NG AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

ION FILED JUNE 13, 1903 APPLIGAT Patented Mar. 2-3, 1915.

12 SHEETS-HEBT 3.

1min? L. J. HALL, MACHINE FOR STAMPING Am) SEALING MAIL MATTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

ATO

lie e Milka iii 4 L: J, EALL.

MACHINE FOR $TAMPING AND SEALING M QQILLI uamefi 23, 19

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 13 1903.

my ma Qw l2 SEEETS-SEEET 5.

L. J: HALL, TAEEPIEG A ND SEALING MAIL MATTER,

AFPLIUATION FILED JUNE 13. 1903.

Eatented Mar.

12 SHEE aff.

L. J. HALL.

G MID SEA NG M AIL MEPTER,

BIAGEINE FOB STAEPIH APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

L. J. HALL. MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER,

APPLIGATIOH FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

, Patented Mar. 2%, 1915 12 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

N AQNRWYNQ L. J. HALL. MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

APELIOATION FILED JUNE 13,1903. 1,1 322923,

Patented Mar 23,

12 SHEETS-SEEET l0.

L. J. HALL. MACHINE F03 STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

/ A PPLIOATIOH FILED JUNE 13, 1903.

i lg g ggg, Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET ll.

L, J. HALL. MACHINE FOR STAMPING AND SEALING MAIL MATTER.

APPLICATION FILED IUIZ 13, 1903.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

12 SHEETSSHEET 12 HALL, 43F CHZCAGG, HILINDIS, ASSIGNOZE, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, T13

HQERIELHALL MAIL YLGSEB (30., A GORPGEA TIQN SE? BELA'WABE.

MACHINE FOB- SI'QMPING AND SEALING NHL-MATTER.

messes.

epglleetion filed June 13, 1903.

To all 2011022266 may concern Be it known that l, LOUIS J. HALL. acitizen oi the United States, residing at Chicage, in she eounty ofCool; and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and use fulImproi'ements in Machines for Stamping and Sealing lvlaii-Matter, ofwhich {he following is e specificaion.

This invention relates to machines for stamping and sealing mail matterand for other similar purposes and particularly contemplates improveme*s upon and. ad'clieions to the mechanisms eloserl in the priorapplications made int-1y hyEdWnrdQlllorrisend myself 0. 00 832.. filedOctober '2, 1897. xi h re; lteil in Yatent No. 884,338, dated April 11998, and 1%. 691,321, filed Eaeptemher 19, 1898, which resulted in lstens Yo. 88%,J3T. elated. A ll, 1.398, and in my prior .epplioatioh No.T 15.0%. filed April 182 v h re -zulteil in Patent No. 870.353, datelNov. 190?.

The object of the invention is to provi e an improved construction inmachines of the character referred to. and i consists in the mattershereinafter set forth and pe ticulorly "pointed out in the appended.claims.

In the accompanying drawings illusemtive of a machine embodying myimprovements in one form. Figure l is a. top plan lew. of the mechanism.with the stamp carriage and certain of its opereeing connectionsremoved. Fig. 2 is :1 tia'osverse sectional elevation when on line 2-2of Figs. 1 and 7, and showingthe stamp carriage in place. Fig. 3 is asectional front elevation taken just inside of the from frame of themeohine. ig. & ,is a front detail of me sealer enlarged from Fig. 3. 5is a top plan detail thereofi Fig. 6 isan enlmgefi eecl elevation.theeeof. Fig. l iseo enlarged top plan detail of the psrrier. 8 is edetailed front elevation thereof enlarged from Fig. 3, Fig. 9 isesimiler View taken on lixie9-9 of Fig. 7 .Fig. 10 is a detailed andelevation thereof. Fig. 11 is an enlarged top plan detail of the leverwhich opens and closes the carrier jaws. Fig. 12 is a similar frontelevationthe 'eof. Fig. 13 is an enlarged top plan detail of the cammechanism and ,ihe frame which controls this lever. Fig. 14' is asectional detail thereof taken on line 14-914 of Fig. 13, looking fromshe Specification 01' Letters Earlene.

Serial He. 151,533.

right. Fig. 15 is an end elevation -shei'eof, looking from left. Fig. 1Gis a diagrammetie front el Get-ion enlarged in 3 of the hell eralaiehihg ice of ihe automatic slop Eneehanlsm. Fig. l? is an enlargeddetail of the lower end. of the latching lever.

lhe supporting frame work. 1 of the maehine thus illustrated islesirehly and herein shown ef metal plates Whieh also serve to form mo.meohzmism. Wei-l; of its length... is

- esirl drive shaft 2, one

one? of Whi h lhrough the front frame plose so 5 Wi g connection orpulley 3, o"

7 he i'oteteii e1. This ll; TE by .e. iZ'OlTl all 1 (11131113 gives moThe (Fig.

" as that disefilpllcatioh llo. Felent No. 5. 1907, hei'einbecomemplatedthat given its s eep by step movement by the some char- 'rioly levees523 end 524: as therein set Grills lnslee d, however, of thesevihz'eioay levers hell operated by direct sting cam, es in said shownherein as ylvoted to the machine is provi-elecl at one end wish send orsoil-friction roller 13 that enters e groove in bhe com 5. 111 all otherrespects the ceostmcsion of the stamp can 'iriage and its solos-tinmechanism may be we pee. and erensversely I and sup identical withtheir. shown in said prior e.p

plication, and improvements.

- Uozw'er mecimm'sm l he 'errier C, which transfers the envelope firstfrom the magezine to a position in Es-011$; ofthe efilxing mechanism,and s1 is from thislzitter posi tion to the steokeie is herein shown esforms no part ofmypresent mounted fie Slide 13021 a Pair 01f guigle rods14 which extend longitudinally of the machine parallel to its frontplate 1 (Figs. 7., 8, 9, and 10). The base plate 15 of the carrier isgrooved to fit over the rods 14, and is provided on its under surfacewith a strap 16, which is removably secured to the carrier base byscrews 17; and the ends of which project beneath the guide rods andprevent the carrier from be ng lifted 'from. them. The carrier isactuated from the crank 4 on the main driving shaft by a pitman a, andmakes one full reciprocation back and forthwith each revolution of saidshaft.

The jaws 18 and "19 of the carrier on the with two pairs of opposingjaws, 118-420 and 1921, respectively. And inthe operation of themachine, the jaws 1820, at one end of the carrier, enter the magazineand pull the envelop to a position in front of the stamp atlixingmechanism in one reciprocation .of the carrier, while the jaws 19-21 atits other end seize the rear end of the same envelop and push it fromthe stamp affixing mechanism into the sealer 1n 'the next reciprocationof the carrier.

-The opening and closing of the carrier jaws is accomplished by a lever25 which is pivoted at 26 to a bracket 27 that projects forwardly andlaterally from the base 15 bf the carrier near its left handendlFig.

7).. ,This lever 25 actuates-the two vibratory jaw arms 22 and 23through links 28 and 29. The link 28 leads directly from the level i325to the jaw arm 22. The link 29 leads frmn the lever 25 to a rigid arm23*,

, whichis keyed or pinned at 2-1? to the pivot brate by action of the onthe arm 23,\ of the stroke of the carr' rod or shaft 24, a1icl,the jawiarm 23 being also rigidly keyed oripi-nned at 24* tothe pivot rod orshaft 2%,;is thus caused to v1- in exactly'the' same maniac 1x as thoughdii v rectly engaged by staid-link; The two links :28 and29 arepivotally secured to the lever .25 by screws-'30-and 31, respectively,and

extend loosely through holes in the j aw arm 22.and rigid arm 2 3- andare provided at their inner ends with adjustable nuts 32 which "engagethe inner faces of the arms. Springs 3.3 are then inserted upon thelinks between the. lever 25 and the jaw armsso that as the lever 25 isswung outwardly and forwardly on its pivot,'the jaws are posif underthepre ure-of the spring 34. In tively ulled open by the nuts 22, whilepivot or shaft 24 (Fig.

to open the jaws, by means of a spring 3 5- i which is mounted upon arod 35 that proj ects forwardly from a lug 36 on the carrier base'15(Figs-B and 10), the free forward end of this'rod 35 being arranged topass loosely through a slot 37- 1n the lever 25 (Fig. 12), and thespring 34 being compressedbetween the lug 36 and the inner side of saidlever. The swinging in of the lever against the pressure of this spring3% is accomplished by a stationary cam 38 (Fig. 7), over which ananti-friction roller 39 on the lever travels as the carrier starts onits movement away from the magazine. As herein shown this roller issecured to the lever by the same screw 30 which pivgtally connects thelever with the link28, and in Fig. 7 this roller is just beginning toride up on the cam 38 in the outward travel of the carrier from themagazine.

As soon as the jaws are once closed by the action of the cam 38, theyare locked in closed position by a latch 40 (Figs. 7 and 10), located atthe right hand front corner -of the base plate 15 of the carrier. latchitself is carried at the upper end of a pair of guide pins 41, which aremounted to The slide verticall throu h a ertures in the sulo y g P acentcorner ofthebaseplate 15, and both the latch and its guide pins arenormally pulled downward by -a -Ispring 42 stretched between the latchands-the base plate 10). \Vhen, the'lever 25'is swungaont and thecarrier. jawslare open, the 'tip lB of the latch rests upon t e top ofth extreme-forward end it of th'e'levr iii idisjthereby held up inraised position and isfii-noperative. But when the lev'e'r 25 i'sl'swungin .tq close the j aws,'its extremity 44 moves in beneath a notch 45 inthe latch whichthereupon immediately drops down over-- the lever andlooks it in its innermost position with the jaws closed. This lockingaction takes place, as before stated, immediately after the roller :39rides up on the cam 38 at the beginning ier to the. right from themagazine toward the afiixing mechamsm, locked throughout the length ofthis stroke. But as the limit of the carrier movement-in this directionis reached, a pin 46 which profrom a stop head l6 I o ioth of theguide-pins 41, strikes-and up on astationary incline 47 (Fig. 8),gradually lifts the latcli40 until it, is

t, rid

raised clear of the lever 25 and leaves the latter free to move back toopen the jaws order to pre ht this unlocking of the and the jawscontinue to be thus on the lower ends mwms lrc'r'n occurring toosuddenly and with an undesirable noise and jar to lhe mechanisrn, astationary cam lug 48 projects inwardly from ills front of the frame inpasicion for contact with the anti friclion roller 39 on she lever justas the lalter is leles ed from the latch and befor it swings ousvmrdlyto any perceptible exlens. The inner end l of lhis cam lug then sustainsthe pressure of the spring during Elie reversal of the carrier stroke,un'ml, as the carrier starts back on its return stroke, the roller 39rides down an inclined surface of the cam lug and permits the lever toswing back and the jaws to gradually open, under the pressure of thisspring ill, unsil they reach the limit of movement permiited by a stoppin 51 that projects upwardly lhrough 21 slot in the lever 25 from thesulojecent bracket 27 of the carrier base plate. @bviously in returningto its initial position at the hand end of ills carrier movemerit tiresntidriction roller must agsiza pass the stationary earn log 38 by sheaction of which upon tlieroller l-llfi carrier jaws were closed diebeginning of the right bend stroke, but the camlug 38 is arranged to belifted out of the path of the returning roller 39 so that said rollercan pass li eneeth she came lug without being engaged by the latterduring its movement. To this end the cam lug 38 is herein shown assupported at the upper end cl e slotted slide $22 which is mounled tomove vertically over guide crews 53 on idle front of 2-1 bracket whichprojects resrwsrdly toward the left from insez side of the front platell of the frame (Figs 1 and I), this slide 52 havin git its unperendsforwerdly projecting tongue which extends over the top of the braclsefiand supporss the cam lug 38 at the rear of said bracket (Figs. 13, lland 15). At iss lower endtlie slide 52 is connested by a WIlSl? pin 56with a lever arzn 57 that is pivoted at the front of the main frame at58. The body or principal length of the lever 5? lies directly above thepath r of e stud 59 on the outer or front face of she merit of tilelever 25 (Fig. 11}, end as the carrier moves back from right sof'left,this stud strikes the under surface of the lever 57, and by raising thelever lifts the slide 52 and with is the can: luv 38, for enough topermit the roller 39 to p ss beneath the lug Without coming in contgcl;with it. Then just before the carrier. reaches the limit of its travelto the left the stud 59 passes from beneath the end of the lever 57, andpermits she cam lug 3;?) lie drop down into the path of movement ofliiie roller 39; read? to '(iefieci' the' ijoller andclosetlie jewsagain in the next; movehereme store of mv;

elemulfil? before. sic

ews lm'presezn j see vision of means whereby the entire mechanism forupplying end afilxing the stamps is automatically thrown out ofaotionWhenever the envelope cease to feed, such means being herein show-n asconstructed as follows :@n ics inner or rear side the carrier providedwith a spring pressed lever arm 50 which is pivoted at 61 *0 a bracket62 on the adjacent stationery jaw bracket 19 This arm extends the entirelength of the carrier and is formed at its left hand end with s songue63 which is adapted to pro-' jest forwardly through apertures 64 in thejaws 18 end 30 at the left hand end of the carrier (Figs. 7, 8, and 10).To normally withdrew this tongue from benealh the jaws, a. lever 65 ispivoted to e projecting lug 66 on the staiionary jaw bracket 19 (Figs."3', 8, and 10), and the lei: hand end 57 of this lever 65 extends infrom of s downwardly projecting lug 68 on the arm 60. Ilsriglui hand end69 is slotted to embrace an llPslfiildlng pin 70 (Fig, 19) which issecured is else rear end of a rod 71 that exlends forward through guidebearings ?2 end '53 in the carrier base plate and connects withlslielever 25 by 9. slot and pin connection M (Figs. 7 and -11); Then as thelever 25 moves out to open the jaws the lever 65 isoscillated to swingback the arm 60 and retract its tongue 63, from between the jaws .18 and26. When thusretracted the tongue 63 leaves the jaws free to embrace andclose upon the next foremost envelop in the magazine, and the presencebe tween the jaws of theenvelop itself will prevent the to gue 6.3 frompassing through the je'ivs, the apertures 64; being so little largerthan the end of the tongue 63 that the silliness of the envelop and itscontents is sulllo'ien't to resist theentrance of the tongue. In thenormal operation of the machine, thereforeythe arm 60 will alwaysbe heldback ill its reermost position, either lay-the action of the lever 65when the jaws are open, or by the presence of the envelop when the jewsare closed. But in case for any reeson'the jaivsifail' to close upon anenvelop or in case tlley fail to hold the envelop but permit i'cto slipfrom befiween them the tongue 63 will instantly be rojected through thejavsencl the arm 60 will swing forward into is foremost position. Theposition of the arm 60 during the right hand or active stroke of thecarrierlsthus controlled b 'vthe fact of the presence 61' ab series ofthe envelop. And the .position of this arm in turn controls the-positionof a stop head '15 that is adapted to engage and 'eotuate e clutchreleasin lever 76. .As herein shown this stop hen 75 (Figs. 9 and ill-1}is. ridg-idly secured upon the end-of a, guide 1o 9'? which is mountedto slide 1on itufdinellyin a rearwardly projecting hollug 3% of thecurler bracket, 19, nd

this rod is provided between its ends with a pin 79 which projectsupwardly through a slot 80 in the top of the lug 78 and engages'the rearface of a downwardly projeccing finger S1 of the arm 60. A spring 82stretched between thg stop head 75 and the carrier bracket 19, tendsconstantly to draw the head forward and maintain the arm 60 undertension tending to project its tongue 63 through the jaws, out as saidarm is normally held back, as hereinbefore described, in the regularoperation of the machine, the stophead 75 isalso normally held back inits real-most position against the tension of this spring.

The clutch releasing is rigidly securedeto a rock shaft 53 that isjournaledaboveand a little to the right of the main drive shaft in theends of brackets Bl that project inwardly from the machine frame tosupport it (Figs. 1,3, and 4). The length of the lever-.76 18 arrangedparallel to the direction of movement of the carrier, and consequentlyto the direction of movement'of the stop head'75, the path of which itoverlaps to a considerable extent (Fig. 16) And it lies in a plane justin front of the plane of the stop head when the latter is forced backinto the position which it occupies in the normal operation ofthemechine, as hereinbefore described, the lanes of the lever and stophead being, however, coincident when the latter is retracted by theswinging forward of the arm 60 in cases where the envelop is absent frombetween the jaws. Ordinarily, therefore, the reciprocation .of thecarrier and stop head takes place without disturbing the lever 76, butin case the stop head is permitted to drawback into its inner positionby the swingingforward of the lever arm 60 when an envelop fails tofeed, the next succeeding movement of the carrier to theright'will'cause the stop head to passv under the inclined end 85 of thelever and raise it so as to oscillate the rock shaft 83. And thisoscillation of the rock shaft throws out the stamp supplying andaflixing devices by breaking the driving lever 76 (Fig. 16),

stamp supplying and aflixing mechanisms.

This latter action is accomplished as fol "lows: The cams 5 and 6, asherein shown,

are rigidly connected to each other by a common hub 86 which is boredout to receive the drive shaft, but fits loosely thereon. This hub isprovided with a clutch dog 87 which is pivoted at 88 between lugs 89 onthe hub, and the inner end 90 ofthis dog projects through an opening inthe hub to normally hook over a shoulder 91 on driving shaft and thusrotate the huband cams. A spring 92 stretched between a pin '93 on therear .end of the dog and another pin 93 on the ad acent face of the cam6 drive shaft and the cams 5 and 6 which transmit motion to thethe tendsto normally'maintain the engagementof the dog with the shaft, and torestore such engagement if disconnected. And on the other hand a rockerarm 94, secured on the rock shaft 83 in the same plane with theclutchdog 87, is arranged to come in contact with the outer end of saiddog and shift the latter so as to break its engagement with the shaftwhenever the rock shaft is oscillated by the contact of the stop headwith the lever 76. This rocker arm 94, furthermore, is provided with abook 95 that is adapted to interlock with a corresponding toe 96 on theend of the clutch dog 87, so that when swung against the dog it will notonly disengage it from the rock shaft, but wi'll form a positive stop toinstantly limit the further rotation of the cams hand 6 until the rockerarm is swung back to release the dog and permit its spring 92 to swingit into renewed engagement with the drive shaft. When the rotation ofthe cams 5 and 6 is thus checked, the operation of both the stampcarriage and the stamp afiixing mechanism will obviously cease and willnot be resumed until the clutch dog reencan s in rotation again.

gages the shaft as above stated, to start the The disengagement of thedriving mechanism for the stamp carriage and afiixing mechanism isdesigned to be maintained as long as the envelope continue to fail tofeed into the carrier, and to this end the lever 76 is provided with alaterally projecting pin 97 (Fig. 16), which, when'the lever is raised,hooks over a shoulder 98 on a swinging latch 99 and thus holds the leverup so'as to maintain the engagement of the rocker arm 94: with the latchis retracted. This retraction of theclutch dog until the g latch doesnot occuruntil by the subsequent the jaws maintaiiikf' t entrance of anenvelop into lever 60 is held back so as to stop head 75. in itsreal-most position," in I which it does notengage the lever 76 but doesengage the lower end, of said latch 99,

which is hung just bagk of the lever on a superjacent pivot 100 .(Figs.=l and. 16) When moving toward the "atlixing mechanism in this rearmostposition thestop 11 7 head will come inz-contact-with the lower end ofthe latch andswi'ng it back into the position shown in dotted lines inFig. '16.-

This will release the lever 76 and permit it cause the rockenarm' 94 tofall, and thereby to release the dog 87 and bring about a reengagementof the clutch which drives the 7' stamp carriage and 'a-flixingmechanism. After thus releasing the lever 76, the .latch 99 will'beswung back tion against the pin 97 -.of the lever, by a spring 101, andt then permit of the return into its normal posiof the stop head'Z'zY-pastethe latch, the lower end of the latteigii's inadeinftheshape-of a. swinging paWLIOQ math is pivoted M ths 13a emeeee latch e'e1G3 mvi iemrmally helix S to the left,- 2 fswings on its 5 permit the topass beneath iisturbing the latch, e115. rem: "m ies normal position bythe seeing 165. step 106 pzo ide on fi e 3 the pawl, as shown Elm ventit from fa ezu'v to penni The ea i'o l 1 The :lriving seen-eel ceniege'and afe'xing me a autumaieey broken W7? supply ceases ow a move anenvelop 1m are l-heraaier wee 'she 33 soon as the eupgfi; e erelops i1;211% magazine is renewed, or es 'eera' ie? jewg again h2g1 to same al'mlwxfoadz'aw new erwelop mm llzewnore 'ee baa j I neetiozze is glee k V byTeam? am e z iii 1 e opei'eeor,

and to this end a sliding has H rimmed in themahine I l am 9% (Figs. 1.out thre'avh the form of 3% rocker mm pa e the 6.0g 8? ease lao releasehold on the drzvmg 511 after ine same manner laerefieioz'e cl r; ineonneetlora with the automatic a ml with the same result of throw ia i awool Stamp 64-. stamp 21*" 12 of ilze fiisclosed in g 0 $15, 42, whichlo @6359, dated ileresultezfi in P ore referred in,

vembe? That lo say, ac presses he stamp againse eke envelop and thenmoves both stamp and the enveiop noclily away from the sheet of stamps,which is for fine time eeinglzelcl sta tieneziy theremy tearing the.stamp from the *llE-Qli. ,As in my iermer applieatlon, also, i clampeonsists e reeiloi'oca c .nger F and an oppo sing yieldirg eleiefi- 3between which and the flange; the steam; is eo'z'npz'essed against lheenvelop.

clamp that,

Anal of these parts the oonstruetwn only of the plaien and lie seiloecl.in sai prior oalie-alien.

Former ennlieatinn the 'eleten was .ouieote e released by the envelepaim-lee, 3713i was rezmctecl by the earlier EIOVIEEHQDYZ? against thepressure of this In the mesent case fee eennectlon oi-ween the *eefi'ierencl plzven is entirely ewe and the nlnten is epemed l fmmiiifll b theplunger thus e oi-iing all possibility of the motion of the pi zingermil plaen loeig ill-filmed WM: relm mm the .4262; when-21ml avoiding theprojeclien of fi e platen 5f the eifitaer is m: nee?- l siting. *Tl'msfizehlnl en ls: mmm'teal at the 5% remz earl a Wlllflh slides oecla' andhea in oi ille'meol'llnefveme. Elne in tlfi's m5; is e nnectel by a slotam 5.22 enmveefien {he 'em'ee'r eml I of a bell. emnlc lever i353w'hlelais ni oecl to the fwme at 11%. The other email a? fills lnellmeal; 5? crmy' eciefi lav a slot am? Join connecti n-.117 w 'lzn alomoket 118 on the end m? e vertleal mil 31$ flint is mmwlerl tn slirlein Emma? one? lower lo 'wlwts 126 we 23', 3% resfieofivelv. ml themachine frame This "ve tln cel rnirl is embraced new its lower em?lneselv refilling cellar E22. eevrlefi {Fig 2 121:! has liq 1 177. 8?rem em? em? meted liv eel: and win c nnecfion'ififi th we? Pml a? the'olamger frame $51; Q The nlnten o n w'mallv maint ined under n 'essn vleading to more it by a swing 196 wh vl-l is t 'etc werl tween tlienp'rjag ea l of the bell-wank anfife efitionefir holding se ew 127nn'the ftvfi e Bvi llllS' pr ssure 5% pw mrilv esikteflw file slirllngcnfim 1 2, whlchq if: fine n warrl movement, of he frnneeml 0-? 8 1 he?!smell" 123-. (lHG m the ret ctl n of 5:31 bllmfl frame lw file lever308. view M st a fixed collar 128 on the rod H9 anrl lifts l18 rod. thusswingins!) the hell enmkllfS Back and retracting the nlm n against thepressure at the spring 126. l i

As the n wnger P is p m'ect d in flwe one'rah'on of flue machine. thenlaten P will be n m'ectecl to meet it bv file spring 126 125 whir-lx isperin i'ted to act byll e swinging of the lever 123 as the gblungermoves out, and the intervel'll lg s amD- and en elop will thereupon beclamped together between the plunge? anfi' platen by the yieldingpressure of this spring. The further projection of the clanip to tearthe stamp from the sheet will then force back the platen against theyielding pressure of the spring 126, until a spring pressed catch 129(Fig. 2) swings in beneath the fixed collar 128 on the rod 119 and holdsthe platen back while the plunger returns.

presence of the collar 122 in front of it, and

as the latter descends with the collar 128 locked by the catch 129 untilthe upward swing of the front end of the lever 123, due to theretraction of the plunger. forces the collar 122 under the collar 12Sagain and simultaneously presses the catch-129 back out of engagementwith said c0llar128, leaving the rod 119 free to descend and the platento move out again to meet the plunger as the latter is projected. A.rubber or similar washer 130, inserted on the rod 119 between thecollars 122 and 128, serves as a buffer between them to reduce the shockof the contact between them, and this buffer may be notched in line withthe catch 129 so as -to permit the catch to swing in beneath the collar128 notwithstanding the presence of the buffer.

The moistening of the face of each onvelop preparatory to theapplication of a stamp is to be accomplished by mechanism shown in myPatent No. 870,359, dated No vember 5, 190?. v

Sealing mcc/Lam'sm.-One of the essential improvements of the sealing"mechanism shown in the present application consists in the provision ofmeans whereby the envelop is bent centrally outward on its face side bythe presser which forces the flap to fold clear down into its intendedposition against the back of the envelop, even though the contents ofthe latter are so thick as to normally tend to raise the flap unduly. Toaccomplish this action the envelop is delivered.

by the carrier between upper/and lower guide plates 150 and 151, ofwhichthe latter is flush with and may constitute part of the table of thesealer. These guide plates are then provided with opposed inwardlyprojecting shoulders 152, the distance betweenwhich is less than thewidth of the envelop for-which the machineis set. The front cornersofthese shoulders 152 are preferably rounded off to permit the edges ofthe en- This catch 129 is nor-, 'mally held out of operative position bythe velops to-readily pass by them, but their rear faces are notched at153 so as to catch the edges of' the envelop after they have oncereachedthis position.

The forcing of the envelops between the shoulders 152 is accomplishedbya reciprocating pressure plate 154 which, in this instance, is carriedby a cross head 155 that slides on fixed guide reds 156 of the frame(Fig. 6). This cross head is connected by a link 157 to the upper end ofa vibratory lever 158, the lower end of which is pivoted to a fixed lug159 of the frame. A'stud 160 is provided on this'lever vbetween its endsand projects'into the groove in the. periphcry of the cam 7 on the crankshaft 2, so that the lever will be vibrated and the presser plate 154reciprocated once in each revolution of the crank shaft.

The envelop E is delivered between the guide plates 151 by the carrierwhen the presser plate 154 is retracted. The face of the envelop isturned away from the presser plate, while its partially closed flapinclines downwardly toward the plate. after some such'manner as is shownin Fig. 6. The

bending of the flap down this far is accomi plished by a ap turningplate 161 placed just inside of thesealeralong-the path of the envelope.This flap turner is herein shown as secured to the top plate 150 of theSealer by screws 162 (Fig. 5). 'It consists of a horizontal top plateprovided at its left hand end with an upturned lip 163 (Fig. 3), andmade wider at this end and provided with a downwardly extening verticalflange 164 which slants back toward the die plate as it approaches thesealer. when the em velop reaches the tlap 'turner in the move.-.

ment of the carrier toward the sealing meelm.

anisin, its flap is in the same substantially horizontal position winchit occupies 1D. the magazine, or if sprung up the hp 163 serves todepress it into this horizontal positiom Then asthe envelop passesbeneath the turn.- ing plate, the edge of its flap strikes'the edge ofthe flange 164 and is thereby gradually turned'down until the envelopemerges'into the sealer with its flap folded as closely against the bodyof the envelop as the thickness of its contents will permit,

Immediately the envelop enters the sealer the presser plate 154 isadvanced and strikes the point of the downwardly inclined flap andgradual y closes it down against the body of the envelop. The advance ofthe presser plate also causes the envelop to bow or belly outwardly awayfrom the plate as it is pushed between the shoulders'l52 which restrainits top and bottom edges. This bending of the envelop takes place justat the right time to permit the point of the flap to slide down theplate, 'hich is preferably inclined backward slighb y, until it reachesa substantially vertical position-before the semi adhesion het-weeiiiheflap and bottom of the envelop begins, iihd the result is that coiled,incl these bands are carried hash-asidzidjiistehly secure-(i by screwbolts 169 tc-lugs on the table Said hands are stretched to a suitabledegree of. tension and serve to swing the gates 165 in against theen'velops and then hold them compressecl against the Presser plate orthe notched feces'l53 of the shoulders 152. Then he the enveiopsaccumulate the scraps yield and permit, the gates to open gmdualiy untilthe envelope pass out beyond them. The vertical distance between thefaces of the to? and hot-tom plates 150 and 151 of the sealer hack ofthe shoulders 152 is desirably made less that the height of the envelopeso that the bowed position of each envelop is maintained until it ispushed through beyond the top plate 150, thus'givin the mucilege on theflap :1 chance to dry be ore the natural straightening oi the em welopwhen released from restraint-can put straiii enough upon the "flap tc'hi'feek the seal. This vertical distance and the distance between theshoulderlfifl may be adjusted to suit different widths of envelope byreising or lowering the top plate 156 by means of thumb screws-171 on astud 172 at the outer edge of the sealer table, by which the top plateis sucportei.

, The moistening of fihe envelop -lieps is herein shown assccoxiipiisheci by s roller: 175 located just to the left of the stampfafiixiiig platen. This roller is revoluhiy mouiiie in a tank 176, andit is contemplated thefi the lower pormon of the roller shall dipcontinhously in the ater in the tank and that the roller shall heIgoteted fast enough to keep its upper portion, which projects out ofthe WaterQj i'lstfwe'i enough to properly moisten the flap. To this engl:1 ratchet Wheel 17'? is secured on the enchof the roller shaft, and aratchet arm 178 is ipivotelly moliiiied 0n the shaft to carry; satchel;pawl 17 9. Theoutei' end of iliissrm is connected by a link with thelever 07 ofthe carrier mechanism and is this caused to os'cillzite oncewith each movement of the carrier." Every"'osci lation of the leverl78'ivill then cmiselhe cwl 179 to engage and slightly rota-to theratchet wheel and roller, and the lattes will csi'rier mechanism,containing thus he hept constantly insistence, A stop pewl 518i servesto hold ihe roller against reverse rotation when the pawl is ieiracieilby the return movement of the arm.

The enveiop sealing mechanism shown and described but not claimed hereinforms the si i'oke 2316. to: openiiig ihe jaws first para, oi the returnstroke, Slibfiiififillh'ilif 2. In e machine of the class ilesoihecl, areciprocating carrier provided. with a phiraliizy of separate clampingmeans for imiivicluelly clamping and transferring envelope ofriiiiereiii, thiclmesses at she seine :imc,

substantially as described.

3, The combination of support adapted to receive, a plurality ofenvelope, for feeding said envelope. 1 some feeding mechanism adapeed tofeed a stem? so a poini; is. posit-ion to he eiiixecl to an envelofitllil. ibo hold it iiniil on envelepnhe feci f rward receive said andmeans cc iei'ollccl h? the presence of en envelop in the feecliiig meansfor operating the stamp feeding; ins-sirv emsm.

i. "In a, machine for sealing and stamping; envelope or the like, meansfor feeding envelope, means foiimoisieniiig them, mesaos for sfiixing astamp .;.thereto, nieces 01 launching O! stacking the envelops underpressure, and means for susomeiicallyTe" leasing said pressure {is theenvelopecocci mutilate in the stacker, substantially *es'ilesci-ihecl. Ti

In a IYlElCillIl of the class dBSClilld,fJ-

subject-matter of? s divisional application stsii p feed and ailixingmecheiiism, e reoiproosting caii'iei' for feeding elie envelopseo themechanism {m3 meaiislocated on saicl carrier for throwin'gbut the stampfeed and affixing mechanism ,i'vhci there-is ho en velop iiseiilicciiier, snhstaslially' as do sciihei.

2i machiiie of the class described, stein feed and affixing mechanism, areiprocetir g carrier for feeding the en velops to ihe cillxevmechanism, and means located on ssixl ch zicr i '5" eeiisiiig thestopstaring of {he stamp-feed and allixing l mechanism whenever anenvelop is carried by the carrier, and for causing the stopping of thestamp-feed and afiixing mechanism whenever'tno envelop is carriedby thecarrier, substantially as described,

8.111 a machine of the class described, a stamp-feed and .afiixingmechanism, a carrier for feeding the envelops and means moving with thecarrier for causing the stopping of the stamp-feed whenever no envelopis carried by the carrier, substantially' as described.

9. In a machine ofthe' class described, a stamp-feed and affixingmechanism, a carrier for feeding the envelops and means moving with thecarrier for causing the stopping and preventing the actuation of thestampfeed and afiixing mechanism Whenever no env,elop is carried by thecarrier, substantially as described. i 3

10. In a machine of the'class desci ibeth a stamp-feed and afliximgmechanism, a car rier for feeding the envelope and meansmoving with thecarrier for causing the-actuw tion of the stamp-feed andafiixermechanism only when an envelop isi carried by thecan. rier,substantially. as' described. I

11. In a machine for aflixing postage stamps to envelops, an affixing mchanism, a carrier for carrying the envclo )s to the aflixing mechanism,and means moving with the carrier for causing the actuation of theaflixing mechanism only when an envelop is being carried by the carrier,substantiallyas described. a

12. In a machine for affixing postage stamps to envelops, a stamp-feedand afiixingmechanism, a carrier clamp for carry ing the envclops andmeans in the clamp for causing the stai ting of the stamp-feed andaffixing mechanism whenever an envelop is in the clamp, and for causingthe stopping of said stamp-feed and affixing mechanism whenever noenvelop is in the clamp, substantially as described.

13. In a machine of the class described, a stamp-feed and affixingmechanism. a .carrier-clamp for carrying the envelops, and means in saidclamp for causing the starting of the stamp-feed and -afiixing mechanismWhehever said clamp closes on .an envelop,

. and for causing the stopping thereof whenever said clamp closeswithout clamping an envelop, substantially as described.

14. In a machine for aflixing stamps to mail matter,.a magazine forholding several sheets containing a plurality of individual stamps,. anafiixing mechanism, means for feeding the individual stamps in each andevery sheet in succession to the affixing .mechanism, and means foractuatingsaid .feeder and aflixing mechanism only when matter'to bestamped is fed to the affixing .meclianism, substantially as described.

15. In a machine tor affixing swaps to to the affixing mechanism, andmeans for actuating the aflixing mechanism only when matter to bestamped is fed to the affixing mechanism, substantially as described.

17-.--In a machine for afiixing stampsto mail matter, means for holdinga sheet containing-a plurality of individual stamps, an afiixingmechanism, means for feeding the individual stamps in the sheet insuccession to the aflt'xing mechanism, and means for actuating thefeeding means only when matter to bc stamped is fed to the 'afiixingmechanism, substantially as described.

' 18. In a machine for affixing stamps to mail matter, means for holdinga sheet containing a plurality of individual stamps, an affixingmechanism, means for feeding the individual stamps in the sheet insuccession to the aliixing mechanism, means for feeding mail matter tothe afl'ixing mechanism, and means for actuating the stamp feed onlywhen mail matter is being fed to the afiixing mechanism, substantiallyas described.

19. In a machine for afiixing stamps to mail matter, means for holding asheet containing a plurality of individual stamps, an affixingmechanism, means for feeding the individual stamps in the sheet insuccession to the afiixing mechanism, means for feeding mail matter tothe afiixing mechanism, and means for automatically stopping the stampfee ing means and allixing mechanism whenever mail matter ceases to befed to the affixing mechanism, substantially as de-' scribed i 20. In amachine of the class described, a stamp aflixing mechanism, a carrierfor. feeding the envelope bit the affixer mechanism and means located onsaid carrier for stoppin'gjithe action. of the afiixer mechanism whenthere is no envelop in said carrier, substantially as described.

21. In a machine for affixing stamps to mail matter, means for holding asheet containing a plurality of individual stamps. an aiiixingmechanism, means for feeding the individualstamp; in the" sheet insuccession to the afii mng mehanism, and means for actuating thestamp-feedj and affixing mechfinism y, he at ephe stamped, i

